Quest Physics

Eat. Pray. Love.

I've read the book about 7 times. It's the type of novel that has splashes of  wine, folded edges and a weathered cover. Her own journey reminds me so much of my own, just in different ways.  Just watched the film. Not quite the emotional ride one gets from reading the book, but a pretty good job none the less. What matters most is what you take away from the message. The last few frames of the movie sums it up eloquently in what the writer calls Quest Physics. I lived it, and can only believe that it works.

Quest Physics: If you are brave enough  to leave behind everything familiar and comforting which could be anything from your house to bitter old resentments and set out on a truth seeking journey either externally or internally, and if you are truly willing to regard everything that happens to you on that journey as a clue and if you except everyone you meet along the way as a teacher, and if you are prepared most of all to face and forgive some very difficult realties about yourself, then the truth will not be held from you.

Namaste. 

Property Virgin?

Everything has been finalized. I dove into the real estate market. I found the place I will call home for the next 30 years (or so says my mortgage). As the builder shook my hand and offered his congratulations; his smile spread from ear to ear. He paused a moment to notice that my facial expression was a little less smiley and a lot more of a panicky.


The plunge was thrilling, but as I signed my name away on the numerous contracts, documents and statements you can’t help but take a moment to truly ask yourself, “ Can I really do this?”.

“I can’t look at this as debt only as an investment”. I repeated this little mantra over and over as a simple reminder to indulge in the excitement. I’m hoping the elation will continue as I watch the dollar signs fly as I go about pricing appliances, furniture and all the stuff I need to actually put in the place. Last August, I freed myself of all my belongings— and now… in hindsight I probably should have kept just a few!

Besides the price tags, I am eager to move in and get settled. With only the notary left to go, I am officially no longer a property virgin.

30 Days Has September

30 Days has September, and before you know it half of October is already gone. I never really realised how fast time really flies. I've been home for exactly I month and 9 days. This is the first opportunity, I've had to sit down to reflect and  write. It's been quite a whirlwind returning home, from the reverse culture shock, to seeing all my friends and family, to eating all the food I missed so much being away. I'm missing Korea and especially my life long friends I made. In the Month and 9 days that I've been back on North American soil-- I returned to work, bought a car... and even bought myself a home.  What better way to arrive home than in style?!

August Rush

August rushed in faster than I ever expected. It's hard to believe that I've been adventuring for a whole year. I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to follow my dreams and come half way across the world to teach English. I have tried my best to capture my experiences through my writing along the journey, but find it so difficult to really express everything that I have learned over the past year.  I have met wonderful people and made lifetime friendships. I've been to places I had never dreamed of seeing. I've inspired students to continue learning and to always dream. I've learned a new language (although still a little rusty). I've deepened my understanding of another culture.  I've realized that age really is a state of mind and that no matter where you are in life- it's exactly where you should be.   I've done all the things I love to do-- all on my own. Teaching English in Korea has been the experience of a lifetime, and I will never forget the memories created here.

There are so many things I will miss about Korea, and of course a few things I won't.

Top 5 Things I Will Miss About Living in Korea

1. Anywhere you want to go in the city  is less than a 10$  taxi ride away. From Downtown Daegu, my apartment is a 6 $ cab ride away.  You can't beat that when you're out and about on the town. 

2. Meeting and talking with just about anybody.  All the ex-pats here, are just that... ex-pats. Doesn't matter where you go or who you bump into, there is always a perfect conversation starter for the still singles out there.Making new friendships or skinships is pretty easy.

3. Korean snacks and treats. I'll miss the mandu, and the bibimbap. You'll get a satisfying meal in Korea for under 6$. You'd never find that back home, unless you're doing a drive through.

4. Bars don't close (although this may not be such a good thing). For those of you who know me, I love to dance the night away, and when the music is great-- you'll often have trouble dragging me away. Drinks are cheap, a solid cocktail will run you about 4$ and you can even take them to the street, no questions asked. 

5. Being busy every weekend. Exploring the city and beyond. Learning about Korean culture and experiencing life as close as you can. Korea has a lot of to offer, and I will miss the hustle and bustle of life in the city.

Top 5 Things I Won't Miss About Living in Korea

1. The obvious language barrier. Having to say the same word over and over with a  different pitch, with still no results. Pulling out the cell phone dictionary or pocket translator just to get down the street, gets old really fast.  The obvious, I am a foreigner and do not speak Korean look- and yet the person continues to rant off in Korean as if you understand.

2. The Korean Ajumas (elderly women) who punch and elbow their way through the crowds and have an overall lack of personal space. They will knock you over if you don't stand your ground. 

3. The fishy smells that waft about the city. I don't really have a strong stomach, and absolutely hate fish- but for some reason no matter where you walk it hits you right in the face. 

4. The overall lack of following any speed limits, red lights or pedestrian crosswalks.   I've been nearly killed in a taxi (twice) as the cab exceeded speeds of 80 KM in a residential area. Motorbikes don't stop at red lights, and dodging is just another form of walking around here.Furthermore, people on the street don't hesitate to just walk right into you.

5. The head nodding and cut off conversations. Koreans generally don't close a conversation, so you're left hanging either on the phone or in person. They generally finish with a head nod, or a " Neeeeeeeee", which after a few minutes of standing there, you realize the conversation is over.

The Land of Smiles

Over the past year, I've been on so many adventures. I made it to Korea, to Australia and now I'm making my way to Thailand. They call it the Land of Smiles.

I'm very much looking forward to spending my last few weeks in Thailand. It's been a wild ride here in Korea, and it will sure be nice to relax on the beach, explore and indulge in what Thailand has to offer.  My friend and I are heading out for our last vacation before we both are homeward bound. We don't have much booked, but have some ideas as to what we want to see and do. We're both kind of taking a back seat, and hoping that once we get there we'll let the locals guide us. We'll be flying by the seat of our pants for this one, and hope to enjoy every minute of our last adventure, before our new one begins.  Here's to some happy smiles!

Skinship

"Konglish" is the use of English words in a Korean context. Any foreigner here in Korea has probably heard their fare share of re-interpreted words and expressions.  A new one I heard last week was a colleague telling me she was going "eye shopping". I couldn't help but laugh out loud when it finally dawned on me that she meant "window shopping" as opposed to going out on the hunt for a glass eye.

Expressions like these are all the rage over here, and despite making it at times difficult for English teachers, some of them are frankly quite catchy. One of my new faves is "skinship" and I'll be bringing this one back home with me for sure. It essentially means a relationship that focuses on the exploration of another's skin ( I bet you can see where this is headed).  It's origin comes from the closeness shared between mother and child. Nowadays in Korea, it basically means many forms of intimacy and  sexual contact.

"Skinship" is the new term for casual sex. A non-relationship, based purely on skintimacy. If you're trying to define your "relationship" to a Korean friend, and you use the term casual sex- you'll receive a blank stare, raised eyebrows and utter confusion in return. However, if one uses the "correct" phrase, "skinship"-- you're bound to get a sly smile and head nod instead.

Despite, the idea that most people in this World are looking for a real relationship connection, here in Korea, whether you're an ex-pat or a Korean, skinships appears to be taking hold of the community. Everyone, it seems, is looking for just a little skintimacy.

I wonder if it's because as ex-pats we're moving in and moving out of the country. Really- who has time and energy to devote to establishing a real relationship within a limited amount of time? Maybe it's just easier to share in some skinship and get out. Or, is it that relationships for the younger generation are just evolving... or devolving-- however you wish to see it.  Both (the younger) men and women seem to be searching for skinships rather than relationships. Have we gone back to the 60's era of free love and sex? Are committed relationships a thing of the past?

Whatever the case may be- if we're only here for a short while, why not have a little fun while we're at it? Having a little skinship never hurt anybody, and let me tell you it could just be the end-all cure for culture shock, as long as you're both on the same skintimacy page.

Charley Davidson

I couldn't have asked for a better send off. I said good-bye to two of my guy friends this week, and despite the sadness we took the opportunity to have one last adventure together. My friends happen to live near the mountains in a small town called Yeongcheon. They also have bikes. Not the 5 speed variety, but of the 125 cc kind. The last time I mounted a motorcycle, I burned my leg on the exhaust and my speed demon driver almost ran over a dog... this time round was a completely different experience.

We geared up for the two hour ride, packed with the camera, some smokes, and an i-pod play-list. Besides our helmet's it was just going to be the two bikes and the road.

As we drove through the city and out into the mountains with the wind whipping our faces  the air and the scenery around us was breathtaking.  There was a haze of clouds as we set off to beat the sunset. The cool country air surrounded us as we climbed higher and higher throughout the winding roads. There are no words to describe being out on the open road, flanked by sweeping vistas. It reminds us that there is so much out there.

We made it to the top, just as the sun decided to peak through the burst of clouds. As we scanned the valleys below, you couldn't help but take a moment to appreciate the beauty before us. There was a moment, as the sun's rays glimmered, that I couldn't help but feel a sense of homecoming. That no matter what lay ahead, everything was going to be alright. We never know what life will bring next- and so for just a moment in time, you breathe in the majestic beauty and find solace in the knowing that whatever comes you just keep climbing.

As the sun began to settle in the late afternoon, we headed back down the mountain. Charley Davidson gave us a good ride. I couldn't have asked for a more beautiful afternoon with two guys, who have become like family during my adventure in Korea.

With the wind at our backs and the trees zooming by we were free.  The setting sun splintered through the trees as we kept on driving home. You could feel nothing but the dewy air rushing full force against your body. It was the ride of a lifetime, the kind where you want to lift up your arms to the heavens and scream at the top of your lungs. My first choice words were, " my life is beautiful".  Thank you Charles and Blair for the memories. You'll be missed until I can see you again on the road ahead.

Mudfest Madness

 Wallowing in Mud. Good times.  This famous festival  is on one of the top ten places to see before you're thirty. Well, I did it... just at thirty- one.  The festival takes place in Boreyeong, South Korea, a small sea side town that hosts a mud festival every year.

We hopped on a bus headed to mud land with about 130 other foreigners hoping to frolic in the mineral mud. The 3- plus hour bus ride started at 8 am, and with pit stops and by-the-road pee breaks we finally arrived at noon.

The bus ride of course, would not have been complete without a little partying (drinking started at 9) and a some Bus Norebang (Karaoke).  The selections included sing-alongs such as Brown Eyed Girl, Eye of the Tiger, Under the Sea and even Oh Holy Night (don't ask).

Once arrived, it was pretty clear that although this festival was originally intended for the Korean population, it turned out to cater to the hundreds of foreigners ready to mash it up in the mud.

We swamped through the jungle course, and played a very muddy tug of war. Honestly, it was one of the best times we've had so far in South Korea. For anyone who hasn't been... this is an absolute must do. Put it on your list and commit. There was live music, good food, and a great crowd.  I'm sad I won't be around to wrestle in the mud next year, but I can say that I've done it once in my lifetime.

The 13th Mud Festival was a huge success and I'm happy to have done it with those I call family around here. It was definitely madness- but oh-so-worth it.

Summer Camps and Celebrity Status

If you've ever wondered what it would really feel like to be a celebrity, just make your way on over to Korea and teach English.  Foreign teachers are randomly asked to pose for a cell phone picture in the streets by teens and adults alike, but the real paparazzi frenzy happens in the midst of  screaming child fans.

Summer Camp season is here. Basically, regular school has ended, and now the lucky students are enrolled in 3-5 day camps, where they eagerly await more English language instruction. Given that many of these students live below the poverty line, have grueling scholastic schedules and little time for fun- these camps are an opportunity for us teachers to show them that English can be their friend! Games, activities and of course, a little lesson action paves the way for language learning.

This weeks camp, I have elementary students, from grades 3 through 6. Its been so refreshing to teach the little ones, whose eagerness and enthusiasm make it a great joy to teach. It's a 360 turn around from my middle school students who'd rather sleep away the class and/or just stare at themselves in their pocket mirrors.

Once the camp is over and closing ceremonies have ended... pandemonium erupts. The students leap from their seats and begin taking cell phone snap shots like paparazzi pros. One after another, they push, shove and elbow their way through to get as many pics as possible of their Foreign teachers who taught them.  I'll be honest, I'm not particularly photogenic and after the 60th snap you're pretty much done. Having figured, the photo-shoot session was over the four of us foreign teachers made our way out of the auditorium and were headed home. Outside, we were bombarded with the crowds of kids waiting for us. They shouted and waved, and called out our names. We had no idea what was going on! I know I am a pretty good teacher, but this was way out of anything I've ever experienced.

The kids swarmed us with paper and pens, and insisted we give them our autographs. We just kinda went with it. As we signed, the photo shoot continued, one after another. I'm not too sure what the significance is of having my signature is- I doubt it can be sold for any money. Perhaps, they are just so proud to have had an opportunity to learn with us? I'll never really know.

What I can tell you, is that being a celebrity is exhausting. The first autograph is thrilling and you can't help but feel your head swell a tad-- but after 30 minutes of signing your name away... you just want to run.

School's Out for Summer

Today is the last day of regular classes around here. Summer Vacation officially begins tomorrow. It’s been quite a day, filled with a few tears. I’ve never really been very good with good-byes. These students have made a lasting impression, and I will forever be grateful to have had the opportunity to teach, guide and have fun with them. There are a few of my favorites that showered me with presents, cards and kisses. I really will miss them. They work so hard and have so much to give, if you open your heart and let them in.


For most of these students, the start of summer vacation isn’t much to talk about. Many of my students, continue to go to school even though they are on “vacation”. It’s basically a vacation from regular classes, and instead they get to go study somewhere else (YIPEE).

During the school year, my 13-15 year olds have school from 8:20- 4:20, they then rush off to another “hagwon” or academy where they will endure several more hours of instruction in the main subjects, such as, math, English, Science, Music. Their grueling schedule pains me. They sleep only a few hours a night, to get right back into the grind. They worry about their scores, and regular teenager fare.

I’m glad I had the opportunity to teach them about the World, that it is okay to laugh and of course have fun.
I will continue to pray that the Korean system changes it’s views on discipline and doctrine as these students have enough to deal with, without worrying about the looming threats of physical discipline. For god- sakes, they are only kids.

I’m looking forward to the next two weeks, where I will be spending my time at English Camp (essentially this is like our “day camps” back home except they are strictly educational). I’ll be teaching the wee ones, which in itself is an adventure! They are so cute, you just want to scoop them up!

Canada Day in Korea, Ehh!

Last week the foreigners were out and about celebrating their homelands. First came the Canadians, then the Americans. A local (Canadian owned) restaurant here in Daegu offered up some wonderful meals and deals to celebrate Canada Day. On the menu: poutine and ceaser specials.

You just don't realise how much you miss the comforts of good ol' canadian staples until their placed right there in front of your face. I may not have indulged in the poutine (although I really really wanted to) but I did have a few ceasers. Whoever invented clamato juice deserves a good slap on the back. Even American Amy says a ceaser beats a bloody mary any day! Canada 1- America 0.

We rocked out to the hip, and watched the Canada Hockey Game. There was even a little time for a quick game of darts.  Note the slew of red t-shirts in the background. One girl, came out with the Canadian flag shifted as a skirt. Now that's patriotism!

American Amy flying solo in purple. But she's started saying, "eh".

That counts for something!!

We celebrated our friends below beneath us on the weekend. Although there were no big parties to speak of, our friend Charles came up with a brilliant idea: bringing the fireworks to Busan!!

All in all, it was great celebration! It will be good to be back home next year, for the real deal, though!

Blind Date Nation

Dating is complicated in any country or any culture. Two people meet, flirt and the dance begins or ends depending on how things progress. Okay- so this appears to be the same things that transpire in western cultures. Every human is just yearning to find "the one". So what's so different about Korea? Korea is a blind date nation. Every one of my single Korean friends (male and female) have been on a blind date. Typically, friends, mothers, grandmothers and even aunts play match maker for their single loved ones. Once the hook up is made, the match-maker or third wheel goes along for the date. Its not uncommon to sit down for dinner and count the tables where three people looking mighty awkward sit down for a meal or a cup of coffee. The match-maker sort of acts like a buffer. He/She will try and stimulate the conversation. Talk about awkward.  If the mood is right and there is a likely match, the two singles will likely see each other again in hopes of sparking a relationship.  If not, it all ends there, until the next blind date comes through.  I hear that the match maker truly considers the two people's needs and wants. My friends tell me that usually two people in Korea are set up based on professional status, social status and salary.  I can't say that this is for every situation, but my friends have expressed that this is the typical set up situation.

Back in North America, blind dating is kind of unheard of, except for the select stories you hear floating around. I'm totally unaware of the success rate of this style of hooking up, but I guess it beats meeting people in a bar or on the internet. At least you have a middle-man who at least can take some responsibility for the match up in the first place.  That way, you have someone to blame when it goes south or at least a pretty good toast at your wedding.  Maybe, I'll put the word out to my friends back home to start keeping a look out-- but let's be honest, I'm looking for a little more than social status and salary...  although six figures couldn't hurt.

Texting and everything in between

Is texting really the new call?  I've never really been one for texting. Okay- so its effective when arranging a time and place to meet- but having a full blown conversation over text messaging has always seemed such a nuisance to me. With all this technology out there, it seems that texting has become more popular than the age-old telephone call.

What I can tell you, that since being in Korea, I've never texted as much in the whole time I've carried a mobile. That's about 10 years (yikes).  It's fast, to the point and pretty simple to navigate. I also believe that since being here, my social networks are of the 20 somethings that thrived on MSN messenger, facebook and texts for most of their teenage-hood.  Although this may have accounted for my sudden interest in texting, I don't hesitate to pick up the phone to dial out.

It's all fine and dandy to send a quick text to a friend, a racy "sext" when the mood is right, but what about  texting in the beginning stages of the dating scene? Is it good or bad? How does one go about asking someone out on a date nowadays. Call? Text? Who knows?!

Texting gives us an impersonal feel, and "out" shall I say. Quick, and painless.  I still consider myself of the old generation, where chivalry still exists in the world. Man calls woman, woman returns call and voila, a conversation where intonation and emotions can guide you during the conversation. The person on the other end, usually, can feel the person out, gauge their words and assess.  All three of these are so hard to read in  a text message. Do people even remember what the person they are texting sounds like?

Although I still haven't come to a clear cut decision on texting with a person who you are interested in, what I can say is that there is a lot of room for mis-communication. Although, I won't be hanging up the keypad just yet, I still have some thinking to do and whether it is acceptable for two people to text when entering the dating scene.

Hot Nights

Last year when I was asked to choose a city to teach in, I thought I had it all figured out. Daegu appeared to be a good fit for me, with its smaller- than - Seoul size, decent nightlife and much to do and see around town. One thing I didn't account for was the sweltering heat that I would be facing come summertime.

Summer swept in during the month of May, with increasing temperatures but still manageable. Since June, the temperatures have only risen steadily. The past three weeks have been an average of 31 degrees. And it gets worse. July will see temperatures around 36-38 degrees Celsius. Oh my. Back home in Canada, we do have some hot and humid days, but when the temperatures reach 30- it's considered a heat wave. Here in Daegu- it's just normal.

Turns out Daegu, South Korea is the hottest city in all of the South Korean peninsula! Daegu is surrounded by many high mountains, and because of this we're settled in a basin. It gets hot and sticky in the summer. Daegu is actually famous for their hot summers. Fabulous.

The rainy season should start soon, and I'm hoping that may bring some slight relief- but I'm not counting on it. The school is equipped with Air Conditioning units in the teachers lounge (and thankfully) in my English Classroom. Here's the thing: They will put the A/C on around mid-day and jack it up to a temperature of 27 degrees. Seriously, what is the point of even turning it on?? I'm happy to report that My classroom is a cool 24 degrees and my students are oh-so-thankful for the relief. Even better- my new apartment came with a A/C unit-- it's been on full blast for a week and I'm loving every second of it.

A different kind of discipline

For those of you keeping up with me, I’m sure by now that you realized I’ve been having a great time and trying to experience as much as I can while I’m in the land of the morning calm. My posts are typically lighthearted and express exactly what I’ve been seeing and doing all around town. This one has been a work in progress for some time now, as it’s a more delicate topic but something I must share as it weighs heavier and heavier as each day passes.


Before I took off on this venture, I knew that I was headed into a Confucius country and was wholeheartedly open to culture learning. Coming from a Western country where physical discipline practices are frowned upon and illegal- it was to be seen how I would handle witnessing the punishment methods in Korea.

For the first few months, I witness physical discipline from teachers ( I told them I refused to use any sort of physical punishment in my classroom) in the form of pinching ear lobes, hitting their palms, putting them on their knees with their arms in the air and maybe a small whack to the back of the head. These practices were used for small offences such as fighting in class, and other misbehaviors, such as the length of students hair. Larger “offences” were treated by having the students engage in extra cleaning duties, homework and playing teacher’s gofers for the day. All in all, what I was seeing was as acceptable as it could be for me. Often, I would leave the teachers lounge if as student was being punished, as this upset me through the core. Despite the discipline being used, here in Korea as a Foreign teacher you do not stand up or say anything, as it is the teacher’s right to physically discipline their students. Heck, parents do it at home as well, my kids show up for school with marks and bruising which are atypical of playground bustle.

With the start of the new semester in March, came a new Physical Education teacher at my school. Within days, I could tell he and I were not going to see eye to eye. He implemented serious practices, including measuring girl’s skirt lengths, hair and just about every disciplinary action required. He soon became in charge of handing out the punishments.

Witnessing this tyrant’s actions against my students has been very emotional for me. It’s been trying to sit down and watch him exercise these severe disciplinary actions against children who are 14 and 15 years old. His behaviors have finally broke me, and this is why I need to rant about it now. His methods are harsh. Last month he punched a student so hard in the face that I saw the bruise welt within seconds, he then kicked the student in the leg. His offence: fighting another boy. I stood up, but was quickly told to sit back down. Two weeks ago he placed a boy in plank position, with his feet up on the window sill for 15 minutes. He then intermittently cracked his backside with a stick. His offence: Chronic tardiness. Girls are whacked across the face for the length of the hair and skirts. I could go on and on, but the thought turns my stomach. I've often sat at my desk and dreamed of cracking him back with his own stick- but I would probably be deported for standing up to a male teacher. .

In my own, classes, when I get close to the students, I see many of them flinch if I come down to their level in a swift movement.  It kills me every time.  It pains me to know what stresses these children go through with school alone, and now have to deal with harsh physical discipline on top of it. Korea is advanced in so many things, but they are still stuck in the 50s when physical discipline was widely accepted. I pray for my students every day that these practices will become illegal soon enough. In the meantime, I can only educate them to the best of my ability- and give them a small break when it comes to English class. It’s a hard enough life as it is.

Double Takes

This one goes out for the ladies! Before I get into the details- let me remind you- what you are about to see is rarity in the place where I've been calling home for 10 months. Now don't get me wrong, amidst the people that make up Daegu- there are a selected few that indeed deserve a double take. This of course occurs more frequently within the male ex-pat community than of the Asian community- but there have been a couple of Korean men that have actually tuned my head.

The following photos were taken on our way to see Sex and The City 2 (how appropriate). The 5 of us were stopped dead in our tracks as we rounded the corner to come face to face with these beautiful boys. Normally, Korean advertising bombards you with flashing neon signs and girls dressed up in just-below-the-bum skirts dancing at boutique entrances- but this was a Daegu first- and let me tell you- it didn't really matter what they were advertising- whatever they were selling... I wanted in.

Turns out they were advertising for a new gym that was opening. I just may have to some research to find its exact location. Who wouldn't want to work out with these guys??

Red Devils

South Koreans love their soccer, and with the FIFA World Cup happening right now,  the hype is happening.  Although I wasn't able to catch the game against Greece, I did however, catch the cheers and screams from the surrounding city through my apartment window! Their second game was Thursday night against Argentina and I made sure to watch the game- Korean style with some of my friends from school.

Decked out in devil red, we decided to head to a Hof (pub) to indulge in some treats and watch the game.  What a better place to settle in for the evening than at an "Irish" bar. No place screams Korean soccer than Dublin's Hof!!

The place did sell Guiness-- but that's about as Irish as it got! We noshed on snacks and had a few pints as we geared up for the game. The place was packed by the start of the match and nearly everyone was dressed in the Korean colors in support of their team. Let's not forget that a slew of people also supported flashing red devil headbands.

You can't tell here, but the rest of the patrons were all wearing red shirts!

The game was a huge disaster against the almighty Argentinian team- but the spirits and beer were flowing throughout the match.  I had no idea what they were cheering, but it matched the beat of the English version of "Let's Go (team) Let's Go!". The hoots and hollers continued well into the night, and when they finally scored the patrons cheered for the pub owner to give them free food or beer (I'm still not too sure on what they wanted)! They chanted, "Ser-vice-ca, Ser-vice-ca" to anyone who would listen but alas, no freebies came. (note: "Service" is a term used here in Korea which means complimentary, the added "ca" is a common addition to most English words spoken here). 

Despite the loss, we had a great time - and I look forward to their next match! I might even get my hands on a red devil headband to really get into the spirit of things!

S-P-E-L-L-B-O-U-N-D

This week I organized a spelling bee for my advanced ESL students. I had so much fun, and this competition was perfect for my Korean students who love to compete for just about anything!

This genius idea came from one of my friends (thank you Lisa) and I showed my students the film "Akeelah and the Bee" to get them motivated and geared up for the competition. The hilarious part of the whole this is that they were more interested in the American school system as seen in the movie! Despite the abundance of American culture questions they did in fact get excited about doing their very own Bee.  I gave them word lists to study from (these were actually high level vocabulary words from U.S competitions). They had 5 weeks to study for the Bee!

Obviously camera shy- only a few showed their faces!!

The competition lasted two days and 22 students competed in the Bee. I was blown away by their abilities and their commitment to the competition! All in all, it was a great success and the students enjoyed every minute of it- plus, they learned a whack load of new vocabulary words!

Here are a few of the students!

Cooking for one in Korea: Ramen

"Ra-meyon" or Ramen is a Korean diet staple. Known in North America as a University students' quick fix meal, here in Korea its actually considered a traditional dish.  Before coming to Korea, when I needed to quench my saltiness fix I would boil up some water, throw in the sauce mix, noodles and presto you have a satisfying Ramen dish.  But who knew that here in Korea it is just so much more?!  With the addition of several ingredients, you can make a pretty satisfying meal.



When you ask just about any Korean child older than 5 years, they can tell you exactly how to cook this meal. I've been given several different ways to make it, including adding spam (eergh), hot dog,  sausage and of course, kimchi.  But I've adapted a little from all my sources, and here how I now make my Korean Ramen (note: this dish is a total heart attack waiting to happen... tread carefully).

Korean Style Ramen

Ramen package ( i like it hot)

Water

Egg

Green Onions

Oval Rice Cakes
Cheese

Start with a pot of water, and add some chopped green onions. Once the water is boiling, and add your Ramen noodles and rice cakes, about half way through cooking time, drop an egg into the water and add your spice mix.

 Once your egg is poached hard, remove contents into a large bowl. Add a slice of cheese, and let it stand for a few seconds until cheese is melted. Then, let your chopsticks to the digging. Enjoy!

 

Touring Daegu

With a mere three months to go, it's all about cramming in the things I want to do!  Last week-end, the Deagu City Hall graciously invited foreigners to tag along on an -all day excursion to see the sites around Daegu.  The trip was totally worth it, and if you have a chance you should get to these hot spots for a day of fun on your own!

Our first stop was at the Guam Farm. The Farm is nestled between mountains and has some beautiful scenery. You feel like you are settled in a an old time rural country village.  

Guam Farm Tour

We experienced some hands on- seasonal activities, laughing the whole time. We got to see how egg baskets were made back in the day, using weaving. 

Basket Weaving

I thought mine was way better... but now that I look at them... 

I think Amy's a natural basket weaver!!

Harvest Time

Next we were off to experience  harvesting crops.  I was very much relieved that tending to the rice fields was not on the agenda but instead we were headed to pick tomatoes.  After being loaded up on a huge tractor, we made our way down to the greenhouses.

We were carefully instructed on how to perfectly pick tomatoes and now have a new found respect for the farmers who must do this harvesting, because the temperature inside the greenhouse was about 45 degrees! I don't think I've ever picked so fast!! 

 The freshly picked tomatoes were delicious!

Rice Cakes 

Next stop was learning how traditional rice cakes were made. My friend Dave was chosen to beat down the rice using a large mallet! 

 Dave was having quite a lot of fun with this!!

T

The cake is then dusted in powder, and cut into pieces

Herb Hillz

There is so much to do at Herb Hillz and if you're keeping track, check my earlier post where a bunch of us Zip Lined here!  This tour included seeing the herb Garden, making natural herb soap and candles. 

M

My friend Lia carefully mixing her candle. 

 Candle Expert!!

Yangnyeongsi Oriental Medicine Center.

The rest of the day was spent at the Yangnyeongsi Oriental Medecine Center. We learned how to cut and package herbs and this place has all kinds of interesting exhibitions (which are foreigner friendly).  This place is perfect for a rainy day activity if you're looking for something to do in Daegu. 

 

All in all, it was a great day, filled with all kinds of memories and laughter. If you're looking for some fun things to do in Daegu- you should check out these hot spots!