Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving day in Korea was super strange, I had to work, and it was just a regular day nothing too special really. In fact for dinner I ate waffles, self proclaimed gourmet 3 cheese eggs and bacon, it was tasty but not for Thanksgiving.

Please can someone tell me why people from home really think Koreans celebrate Thanksgiving, Korean Americans maybe, but Koreans born in Korea who have NEVER been to America, yeah NO THANKSGIVING! I had to tell mad people "Yes, I have to work its an American holiday", Koreans could careless about the pilgrims first meal with the Indians on November 26, 1621! My mom called me at 1:30am "HAPPY THANKSGIVING" all I could do is laugh, because when she called me it was Thanksgiving in America but Thanksgiving day was already over in Korea.

The team decided to cook on Saturday following Thanksgiving at a friends house because there was an oven there. Most Korean apartments do not have an oven so it would make it rather problematic to cook at one of our places. We had a friend who is in the military go to the grocery store on base, to get the essentials for a true Thanksgiving feast. With a list in hand he went to the store and got "everything on the list" and a feast is exactly what we had. We had Turkey (we named him Herb), curry chicken, greens, green beans, corn, mac n cheese, stuffing, mashed potatoes, yams, rolls, corn beard, brownies and cakes. Everything turned out SO good, I really forgot I was in Korea because we do not have access to this kind of food on a regular basis. It was a good time with great people and great food.
Still Seoul Searching...

"I can BUY you"

So recently Korea has been a blast and I am enjoying every bit of it however it has been hard to if that makes sense. I think because I am on the down hill side of things I am getting excited to get home. I have less than 100 days left in Korea can you believe it?! Lately I must admit, I have become "so over" some Korean ways.

Today in class we where having a conversation about things we can purchase I say "Ok class what are some things we can buy?". A student raises his hand and says "You teacher, black people, you know slaves", my jaw dropped! The student is one of my better English students and speaks well and often translates to the class. The thing that mad me so mad was the fact that he knew exactly what he was saying and what he meant. I then proceeded to say to the student "SHUT your mouth before I slamm you for free 99, also you just bought 100 push ups, how you like your change?" in my mind I was thinking, I guess you are my slave now huh?

Korean can be so crazy, and you would think I would be used to it by now but somethings I just can not get used to. Often times, Koreans think its ok to say what ever they want at any time. Now, if I mentioned the treatment of Koreans during the Japense occupation that would be a HUGE problem. I understand I am in a new culture and some things are NOT going to be like home, and thats becasue it is not home, but come on! You know what they say when in Korea do as the Koreans...right????

Beyonce

So yes, its true I have been neglecting you and I am sorry. So let me catch you up on my life in Korea lol. We went to see Beyonce and it was GREAT! We had great seats and had an even better time. Now, normally when 12 women get together one may question whats going to happen. Well we had a BLAST! All I can say is Beyonce is a BAD chick, her show was just like her videos, with no breaks in between. Here are some pics of the concert.

Mass Freeze in Coex Mall South Korea

Teacher You Nike Airs are a FAKE!

So, I decided to dress down one day last week and I wore a pair of sneakers to school. I normally dress rather casually but I never wear sneakers to school. I guess I was being a rebel this day lol. It was not until my second period class when a student keeps looking at my sneakers.

I did not really pay that much attention to the student until he started making funny faces. He then proceeds to raise his hand, I call on him and this was our convo.

Me: Yes, do you have a question?
Student: Yes, teacher your Nike air's are a FAKE! You get in Korea?
Me: Ummmm no they aren't, I got them from America, from footlocker.
Student: No, teacher let me see ( with his hand extended)
Me: OK, here ( as I give him my shoe)
Student: OK, teacher these are good, they are AHSA (awesome in Korean)!

So, I guess I was a bit flabbergasted more a fe reasons, 1 being IF i really did have some fake shoes on, did my student just try and blow up my spot???? and 2 how and WHY, does this little dude know how to tell if Nike's are real or fake??? I guess the world may never know lol
Still Seoul Searching.....

RENT !!

SO I know it has been a while since I have blogged and I am VERY sorry about that. Things have just been so busy. However that is no excuse I WILL do better! Since my last post we went to see the Broadway musical RENT! To answer your question YES it was in English! It was GREAT, I have seen rent before and I have seen the movie, seeing it again it was even better. The show was PACKED, it did bring some questions to mind though.

The Koreans really seemed to enjoy the show, but it made me think about if they really understood how REAL RENT is for many people. Drug use is not an issue in Korea and AIDS is not an epidemic here, so it just seemed like pure entertainment to them. OK enough sad talk. The singing and acting and the people I went with really made for a GREAT Sunday afternoon.

Taray's 25th

So one of my good friends here in Korea was celebrating her 25th birthday. She had mention to us before that she never had a party in her adult life and she really wanted one. In Korea there is a local party planning team and I asked them if they could help us for Taray's birthday. Well they ended up throwing an all white party for her big day. Taray had a blast! It was so much fun check the pictures