Bums

Today was another red day.

And red days are amazing because they mean no school.

This Thursday was even more amazing because not only did we not have school, but the weather was gorgeous and the beach was beckoning!!

Beach bumming it.  And loving it!!

Away Game

This weekend, Michael and I went on the road with the Giants as they took the field against the league's best team, (and Zac's home team), the Samsung Lions of Daegu.

The Giants haven't been doing too well in the league this season (or for the last few years), but… going into this game things were looking good!!  We had beaten the Lions the night before and were winning the series against them 3-0!

We didn't want to get ahead of ourselves, but we were hoping for a win!!

Things started off in our favor and by the bottom of the 3rd we were ahead and happy!  We broke out the cooler and opened a few beers to really start enjoying the game.

Towards the middle of the game, things settled into a bit of a lull, so we used the break to check out a YouTube video Zac had watched the day before.

And we were nearly struck by a foul ball that crashed into the seat just next to us! 

But since we weren't paying attention, and Zac left his glove at home, we didn't leave the game with a souvenir.  Just a few extra laughs. 

We did, however, leave with a victory!

Evaluated

For a while now - probably for as long as I have been in Korea, and I'm sure well before I got here - Native English Teachers have been hearing that "Korea is slowing trying to get rid of us".

The likelihood of it, the actuality of it, the possibility of it really happening is all up in the air.  

But the they have slowly been making small moves to reduce our numbers.

The number of NETs placed in high schools throughout Korea has been significantly decreased, if not entirely eliminated.  There are rumors that middle schools will be next.  And so on and so on, until there are none of us here.

Which would be really sad.  

Sure I don't want to be here my whole life.  

But I don't want to be forced out either.   

When it's time for me to go home or start another journey - I want it to be because it is my choosing and not a government decision to save funds and return things to a homogenous environment.

So when my students were asked to do an evaluation about their opinions on 'the need for native teachers' (i.e. me!) I couldn't help but feel a storm of butterflies take over my stomach.

10 questions.  On a scale of 1-5, 5 being best.  That was all it was.  10 questions to evaluate the need of my job. 

No big deal. 

Oh wait!  Let's make it even more specific and only ask one, ONE, class per grade and see how they feel.  And let's use that as a small sampling, a little insight, and estimated average if you will!!!!!

Bahhhh!!!!

Overall, my students seemed to like me and think there was an actual need for me.

Bless those little monsters!

  

However, they don't make the decisions.  So now it's a waiting game.  

A waiting game to see if the government thinks the same in the upcoming months.

Soaring - part 2

Running off a mountain is a definitely a thrill worth way to spend your day.

As long as you know going it it will be your entire day!

We got to our destination a little before noon, suited up...

took some pictures...

and watched as others took their turns running off the mountain for the majority of the day.

I supposed it was a bit silly to think that you could simply show up and take off  - being that this is a wind driven activity and all.  So instead we waited… and waited… and then waited a bit more as slowly a few lucky participants were able to catch a break and have their turn at soaring.  

We did get to watch this little precious baby play around the mountaintop, so it wasn't entirely a wasted day. ^^

Finally, it was our turn to run off a mountain!!

 It was such an incredible experience and feeling.  Just being up in the sky floating and looking out.  It was so peaceful and calm.

Calm until the landing…

We were meant to land in the rice field, but we were supposed to land in a dry one.  :-P

No harm!  It was a fantastic day!

Soaring

Today Rachel, Michael and I are going paragliding!

Hopefully no one ends up in a tree. 

Calling Cupid

I love meeting - and having the opportunity to talk with - Koreans.  

But 9 times out of 10, the conversation routinely goes a bit like this…

Korean person - Umm… Hi, excuse me.  Where are you from?

Me - I'm from America.

Korean - Aahhh America.  How long have you been in Korea?

Me - This is my 3rd year living in Korea.

Korean - Oh!  So you can speak Korean?  

Me - No.  Only a little.

Korean - Oh, I see.  How old are you?

Me - I'm 27 international age, 29 Korean age.

… and here comes my favorite part…

Korean - Are you married?

Me - No.

Korean - Do you have boyfriend?

Me - No.

Korean - Why?

Why?
Really?!
You're asking me 'Why am I single?'.
Can we drive that knife in just a little bit more?!
Geeeezzzz.

But!!  Instead of answering your deflating and upsetting question, I'm choosing to share this article.  I will let this be… not the answer (because if I knew the answer to 'why', I suppose I wouldn't be single),  but my rebuttal in a way.

So listen up people (men)!   This is my advice to you… for me ;)

Date a Girl Who Travels

(taken (and adapted) from Solitary Wanderer)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Date a girl who travels.  

Date a girl who would rather save up for out of town trips or day trips than buy new shoes or clothes.  She may not look like a fashion plate, but behind that tanned and freckled face from all the days out in the sun, lies a mind that can take you places and an open heart that will take you for what you are, not for what you can be.

Date a girl who travels.  

Yes, a girl who travels knows that anytime, anything can happen and she just has to be prepared [for] it.  Nothing takes her by surprise; she takes everything with equanimity, knowing that such things are always a part of life.  She's reliable and dependable, traits that she's learned while on the road.

You'll recognize a girl who travels by the fact that she's always amazed at the world around her, no matter if she's in her home town or in a place that's totally new.  She sees beauty all around her, not just [in places] featured in travel guides or shown in postcards.  A girl who travels has developed a deeper appreciation for life.  She won't judge you, or pressure you to do things you don't want to do.  She knows too much about the importance of identity and self-efficacy, and she will appreciate all the more if you won't pretend to be who you're not. 

Date a girl who travels, because when you're with her, you'll realize that even though she's napped at a temple in Angkor Wat, went boating down the Mekong Delta, ran by the streets of Saigon, or went skinning-dipping in the caves in the Philippines, she still retains that humility that is the mark of a real traveler.  She knows she's been to a lot of places, but she's humbled by the fact that the world is still a big place and she's only seen a small part of it.  Seeing this in her can make you feel all right with yourself too; there's no need for you to do more, to be more.  What you are is enough.

When you meet a girl who travels, ask her where she's been and what she'd going to do next.  She will appreciate your interest, and if you're lucky, she may even invite you to join her.  When she does, do.  Nothing bonds people better than traveling.  On your trips, you will both see each other's best and worst characteristics, and you can then decide whether she's worth fighting for.

Is a girl who travels worth it?  

Yes, she is.  So when you find her, keep her.  Don't lose her with your insecurities and doubts.  Because when she says she loves you, she really does.  After all, she'd seen so many things, met so many people, and if she had chosen you, better grab that opportunity and thank the gods that you were lucky enough she's chosen you and not that bloke she met while watching the sun rise in Angkor Wat, or while whitewater rafting in the Padas Gorge in Sabah. 

If she says she loves you, she must have seen something in you, something that can always call her back from her travels, something that can anchor her to the world in the way that she wants to after weeks and months of being on the road.

Date a girl who travels.  

Make her feel safe, warm, and secure.  Make her believe that no matter where she goes, and however long she's gone, you'll always be there for her, the one that she can call home.

Find a girl who travels.  Date her, love her, and marry her, and your world will never be the same again.

Congratulations!

This weekend my friend, Andrew, took his relationship to the next level as he and his girlfriend, Mia, said 'I do' and became man and wife!

We missed most of the ceremony, because someone (Barry >.< ) was a bit late (30mins!! >.< ) and like an idiot,  I was nice and waited for him - despite the fact that I knew the wedding was starting and his text messages kept sending lie after lie of how close he was to the wedding hall.  What. A. Fool. I am.

But we did get there in time to see Andrew randomly do a little gig up and down the aisle, do pushups with her bride on his back, a violinist play a song as she strutted her stuff like she was on a catwalk; but most importantly, we got there in time for the 'I do's' and to see them seal it all with a kiss!

Following the wedding we went upstairs and had the most wonderful buffet dinner!  It was so delicious!!  And the options were endless!!  We all went up for 3 rounds before getting ice cream and mini cakes and calling it quits on the food.

There was still the second reception - the drinking… I mean Western reception - that we needed to save room for!

We still had a bit of time between the wedding and the Western reception, so we hang out at a little pub near by and took some group shots by Gwangalli Beach.

   

From there we switched over to Haeundae Beach where the reception took place a little treasure of a bar I'd had never been to before.  Sadly, at this point my phone died, so there are no pictures to show you the ridiculousness that broke out as a result of the open bar.  ^^  But I can assure you it was a great time!! and everyone fully enjoyed themselves!  

*Best part might have been seeing the fathers of the bride and groom dance 'Gangnam style'!

It was a great day!  I'm so happy I got to share it Andrew and Mia as they start their lives together.

3 Rounds

It is part of Korean culture that when you go out, you go out for 3 rounds.  

Where and why this started I have no idea.  This is one point of cultural information I cannot provide you with the answer.

I haven't ever really participated in this tradition.  With my school the first round is always dinner.  Which I happily attend - sitting quietly while no one talks to me and eating fabulous food for free is a meal I can deal with.

Free.  Food.  What is not to like there?!

It's the later rounds that I have had no experience with.

A second round was suggested a lot my first year, but I always backed out.  Going to a norae bang (karaoke place) is not my idea of fun even when I'm in my drunkest-make-poor-decision-moments.  So I graciously passed on those.

In my second year, my school had significantly fewer dinners and second rounds were never mentioned.  So there was no public singing to dodge.  Phew!

However, this year...  Dinners have returned (yay free food!) and talk of multiple rounds has resurfaced.

But there seemed to be an established tradition at my school - when talk of the second round came up, all the women lowered their gaze and leave promptly after eating.  There was no assumption that they would join or that they should.  I foolishly thought I was in this category of 'count me out' as well.

Maybe I used to be.  

Having backed out so many times before.  

But these are new days at my school.

New VP.  New/more males members and with that…

My luck ran out Friday because I was in for all 3 rounds.*  

- Round 1

After our volleyball scrimmage, the teachers who played (and a few others) went out to dinner for sashimi (raw fish).  Like we were back in the 1800s - the male staff sat at one table, and the females at the other.  Throughout the dinner there were...

Points that should have been warning signs:

1. No female teachers were drinking or even asked for a drink

2. I was offer beer and included in several of the cheers with the males at the other table

3. Male teachers saying in Korean (then translated to me) that they wanted to get to know me more.

4. Get a clue Meagan!

- Round 2

Getting to know me more, turned out to be me, and only me - talk about throwing me under the bus - going with the 7 male staff members of my school to play pool.  Nooootttt awkward. At. All.  

This, however; turned out to be great fun.  Sure, talking to my co-workers wasn't the smoothest or the easiest thing at first, but as the evening went on things got easier.  We were even able to taunt each other while playing; and I ended up having a really good time!

^sorry really crappy photo, only one I managed to take the whole night.

- Round 3

Despite losing to one co-worker and another who looked like he was going to fall over from his soju-fueled drunkenness (the males drank 5 bottles of soju - that I saw!) we continued on for the next round.

The final round took us to a local pub on Yeongdo.  We all crowded in around a table, ordered beers and fruit - because what else would you snack on while you drink cold, light, beer?!  And then ordered some more beer and snacked on dried fish, squid and meat.  I choose to pass on this round of snacks.  But it was still great fun!

After that the night came to an end.  

Or so I thought.  

The whole night had not taken us out of a one-mile radius of my apartment or school.  I knew exactly where I was and how to get home.  I wasn't worried about walking myself home.  It wasn't even 9pm!  

But my co-workers wouldn't hear of it!  We split up into two groups, said our goodbyes and then I was walked with my escorts back to school and given a ride to my apartments (all which took longer than had I just walked home to begin with but what can I say… they were being gentlemen).

*Although I started out apprehensive about how the night out with my male co-workers would go, in the end I'm really glad I went long for the last 2 rounds!!  The men at my school are really great people and it felt so nice to be included and to have co-workers want to talk to me!  I also may or may not be in love with one of my co-workers.  He is the most adorable thing!! ^^

I'd go for more 3 rounds with them! as long as there's no more dried squid.

Cheerleader? F. No.

Volleyball has started again at Daepyung.  

I'm sort of… kind of… maybe… ehh... looking forward to playing.   

No.  I am still.  I was...   

What I'm looking forward to isn't the games.  The games are poo.  I do like when we have in house practices and little matches so that games resemble a more balanced depiction of what I spent half my life playing!  But it's just all the other times we play - like when it's supposed to matter and count towards the tournament that I don't like.  That's when things get reallllly boring for me.

I just still don't get it!!  Why… WHY do you need 9 people on the court?!  It is NOT so that more people get a chance to play.  Because standing - freaking standing - on the court = is not playing.  Never touching the ball because there is literally a screen of humans in front of you, next to you, near you at every moment so that your chances of touching a ball are more negative than positive = is not playing.

This is why I was never a cheerleader.  And also because my dad wouldn't let us.  I can almost distantly remember my dad saying "Why would you cheer for someone, when you could be playing?"  Fair point Thomas!  Now I understand it even more.

It's not that I'm a poor sport.  Or maybe it is a little bit.  But really standing while you're supposed to be playing isn't fun.  I don't know who that's fun for.  I can't imagine that would even be fun for the people who aren't good at sports.  And that's not to say I'm amazing.  But I'm definitely better than wasting my skills by just having my standing behind the field of humans.

Ahhh rant over.

>.<

Let the Games Begin

Sports Day!

This year it was big, BIG, BIGGER than last year.  

Bigger by a whole festival.  

Last year there were some smash hand-made games, a few cultural-throw-back-traditional replicas and some human-tug-of-war (which was cute); not this year…. oh man this year they stepped it up!  

Stepped it up so much that several days worth of my lesson were cancelled so that children could practice.  Practice running.  Practice routines.  Practice games.  Practice more running.  

It seems very… senseless.  

Sure, sure.  It's for the children!  It's supposed to be a good time full of friendly competition, laughter and games.  But midterms are coming up.  Like next week!!  And you're cancelling classes so that kids can practice - running?!  Isn't running a Darwinian trait?  If you can't do it - you don't survive, i.e. SOL to you?!

No, no we're past those evolutionary needs, and are now at a stage were we must practice running so that the parents will be impressed and praise their children for the quickness of their tiny feet! 

And so that is what Daepyung did.  

They practiced routines, and games and running so that the parents would be impressed.  

Impressed?  Eeehhhh maybe.  

Cute?  Absolutely!

Vacation Cha-Cha

This is definitely my school.  

Or at least... it is this year.  

Good grief! things have gone all topsy turvy at Daepyung, and I can say it is NOT in the fun way.

A lot of things have changed this year; but with the Korean school system - that is how things work.  Teachers are required to change schools every 4 years, while vice principals, principals and other head administration people change every 2 years.  They say it is to keep any one person from becoming too powerful/influential at a school, but I say it's a bunch of phewy.


Anyways… this year, at my school nearly half the staff changed!  The first couple weeks were disorienting for me - seeing all the new faces and having to figure out who was who and what they were teaching.  However, not much of it effected me.

What did effected me was: a new co-teacher, Jeong eun, and a new vice principal.  

Jeong eun is great!  She is really kind, friendly and willing to help out with all manners of troubles that I have.  The new VP is… he's new.

And being that he's new (both to our school and to the job - yay!... this is his first every job posting as a VP…) he comes across a bit timid and reserved.  That coupled with this persistent need to consult my contract and adhere to every letter of it is driving me ever-loving-mad.

Sure, I will admit that some of the things I have asked him for, I did so (mainly) because in the past, with my old VP, I would have been allowed to do as I wanted and gotten no gripe for it.  So this year, I've asked for things thinking that since the principal is the same - part of that old mantra had to still be around.

Right?  

Noooo, wrong.  So wrong.

It's all gone out the window! and with it some of my sanity and 83.7% of my patience.

Why the correlation to a latin dance?  Because...

With the program I work for, EPIK, when NETs renew their contract for another year - they are given a bonus vacation.  It's 10 days that should be used after the start of the new contract and within the first 6months.  It is encouraged that this bonus vacation be taken in conjunction with a holiday/when school is not in session period of time.  Most NETs take their renewal vacation during Spring Break at the end of February.

• I had asked my school - back in November of last year - if I could pair my renewal vacation with my summer vacation (8 days) so that I could go back to America for a long period of time.  
• I asked back in November, because I wanted to make sure all the i's were dotted and t's were crossed to ensure that everything was in order before Mrs. Jang left.  (at that point I had no idea who my new co-teacher was going to be.  And co's can be a real toss-up here.)
• My VP said yes, my principal said yes - I hugged her - and I told my family and all of Facebook I would be home for a month this coming summer.

And now the dance…

I asked Jeong eun if we could get my vacation dates confirmed this week, so that I could start looking-to-buy a flight home and get things sorted with family and friends as needed.  She was all for it, and on Tuesday (the day of my amazing open class) we asked the VP if he could sign off on my leave.

He said a lot of things in Korean, most of which was not translated to me; but the part I was told was that:

• I couldn't take that much time off.
• I couldn't miss school.
• I had to do camp.
• It wasn't possible.
• I couldn't go home.

What I did was cry.  

I was so frustrated from the wasted open class, so tired of the back and forth with my new VP, so over the vacation struggle that I just didn't know what to do.  However, some part of my brain knew what to do >.< and its response was to ever-so-coolly send water running down my face.  Freakin' fantastic.

It was a giant step backwards.  Not only for my summer plans but also for my coolness.

But as Mr. Brault said above, it's a cha-cha.  

And so it was with my school.  Because within a few days, my VP and principal turned around and said I could have the time off and leave on the date that was agree upon back in November.

Good grief indeed!

cha-cha-cha!

Nature

I was a Girl Scout for about three years.

Off and on.  

Which really isn't much.  

I sold more boxes of cookies than I earned badges.  I guess that is kind of something; considering most Americans look forward to GS cookies as much as they do Christmas or any sport championship*.

So in that respect - I did well!

Where I didn't do well was the whole nature part of being a GS.

Nature… yeah, it's just really not for me.

But lately I have been trying to "be one with nature" and all that garbage that people say to make being out amongst the trees and dirt and bugs sound nice and fun.  Yay!  Nature…

You will be hell pressed to get me out camping.  A tent.  On the ground.  With more bugs for tent-mates than humans is not anything I would rank high on my list of ever wanting to do.  

Not that hiking is high up on my list of things I want or like to do either, but I've been doing it.  I wouldn't go as far to say I've enjoyed it - but I've been out there trekking up hills, climbing down unstable rock slopes, and taking in the sights that over look Busan. 

It doesn't clear my mind or relax my body, but it works my legs and pumps my lungs.  And that part I do like.

Also, it's a good alternative to being worthless and hungover on the weekend (or in the case of this past weekend - gets you out and working off all the booze you consumed the previous night, but let me digress).  

Plus I get to spend a few hours with my bestie, Michael.  

So the pros and cons cancel out and it's an ok time!

*I do not get excited for sports.  Period.

Elephant in the Room

I'm trying to think of how to start this post, and I can't come up with a sentences that doesn't start with "I guess…".

But that's just it.  I can only guess.  I can't fathom it.  I don't know how it works.  I don't get it.

North and South Korea.  

Their ever intwined, f#@$ed up relationship.

I guess…

It would be like having a twin.  

That hates you.  

But wishes they were you.  

And is always coming in second to you.  

Well not really second...

More like last… 

in the world. jk 

That is kind of how I (unfairly, unjustly, inaccurately, maybe a bit discriminatorily) see the relationship between my "home" country and its twin.


But what is not a guess, what is fact - and slightly unnerving - is that no one talks about it!  The Koreans could not be bothered that their uglier, unhappy, seething twin is sitting close by, ready to throw down the gloves, get out the guns and go to battle.

Or North Korea would like the Western world to think.

And they do!  The Western world is on alert at the threats that Kim Jong-un is making, but Koreans could give a shit.

They will not. even. talk. about. it!

Maybe it's a pride issue.  Or it's embarrassing.  Or any one of a thousand possible cultural issues that - again - I can't begin to guess.

But the thing that gets me - the elephant that's not only in the room; but running round, sounding its trumpet - is the fact that I live here too!

Have you forgotten Korea?!

My intrigue into what is going on with your hotheaded twin, isn't simple some tasteless, sapless question (well, not entirely).  It's because I live here too!

But since I'm not getting any answers, and the Koreans aren't worried, I guess I'll just have to relax until they start to show signs of alarm.

Because when that happens! that's when I know it's time to

and

What Another Year Looks Like

Here's a look at what life was like my second year in Korea.

*here's a look at my first year